Peter Mel Surfs Mavericks Wave of the Decade.

In the late 90’s people started to talk about a mystery giant wave off the Northern Californian coast by Half Moon Bay. It was called Mavericks after a German Sheppard dog that used to hang out at the spot.

One of the tight crew who surfed “Mavs” was a guy called Peter Mel. Peter has never sought the limelight until the WSL Big Wave Tour needed a frontman and then he became a commentator for the main WSL Pro Tour.

I used to watch VHS videos in the 90’s with him riding giant waves and he always seemed to catch them when everyone else was holding back.

Anyway, at 50 years of age he just paddled into one of the biggest barrels ever captured in the spot. Just mind blowing…

Mel tucked in to a massive barrel before coming out with the spit to wild hoots.

‘Oh my God. I’m 50 years old. Did I just do that?’Do I do it again? It’s pretty scary, I guess, so I don’t know.’

I’ve always admired Peter, his commentary for the WSL is really great and he always comes across as a humble guy that still loves to charge. He really deserves this wave for his constant enthusiasm and putting himself where most people would run from…